Ohio
77

A W MARION STATE PARK

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A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Canada Goslings
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Marina Sign
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Canada Geese on the Grass
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Entrance to A. W. Marion State Park.
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Canada Geese on the Water
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Canada Goose on the Water
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Lake View
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Lake View
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park A.W. Marion State Park © Lonnie Williams
Panoramic View of Lake
A W Marion State Park © stateparks.com
Circleville, Ohio
A W Marion State Park © Eric Hoffman
A W MARION STATE PARK
A W MARION STATE PARK
7317 Warner-Huffer Rd
Circleville, Ohio   43113
(lat:39.6288 lon:-82.8882)

Phone: 740-467-2690
Reservations: 866-644-6727
Email:
The rolling woodlands and quiet waters of A.W. Marion State Park offer visitors a welcome escape from the rigors of everyday life. This small but unique park offers a variety of recreational activities while maintaining a quiet atmosphere of natural serenity.
Park Map (pdf)
Nature of the Area
A. W. Marion State Park, located in Pickaway County, can attribute its natural wonders to glaciation that occurred more than 12,000 years ago. As glaciers advanced over more than two-thirds of Ohio, vast amounts of rock and soil (or till) were deposited over the landscape. This till had a direct effect on the natural vegetation that occurs at A. W. Marion. The surface of the park is fairly level and the soil very fertile. The area is diverse with woodlands, plains and prairie. Ohio's prairies, products of an ancient dry climate, are really small versions of the more extensive grasslands in the western United States. This eastern portion extends into Ohio and is part of the prairie-forest border or tension zone. Within this zone, the grasslands increased in size during droughts, only to be reinvaded by forests during wet periods. Before settlement began, scrub oak barrens, dense thickets formed by this shrub, were common in the region but have since been cleared for raising crops. The nearby floodplains of the Scioto River are adorned with a variety of wildflowers. Wildlife indigenous to the area includes fox squirrel, ring-necked pheasant, a variety of songbirds, red fox and white-tailed deer.
History of the Area
Long before A.W. Marion became a state park, this area had developed an amazing history. Due largely to the fertile soils of the Pickaway Plains, which are said to contain the richest land in Ohio, early inhabitants were attracted here. The Adena culture were among the first to settle the area 2,000 years ago. An ancient circular earthworks on the site of what is now the city of Circleville (hence the name) gave evidence to their presence. In more recent times the villages of Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee nation were located on these plains. These same villages were the object of attention of Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who in 1774 marched his army within striking distance of the Indians. His intention was to destroy the villages and end the uprising that had resulted in the Battle of Point Pleasant days earlier. At the request of the Indians, a peace settlement was agreed upon before any more fighting occurred.

In 1948, construction began on the dam for Hargus Creek Lake. By 1950, the area became part of the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation. In 1962, the park was renamed the A.W. Marion State Park in honor of the first director of the Department of Natural Resources, a Pickaway County native.
Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
April 15 GREAT by crappie master
This is a fun, awesome park to hang out with friends and familey
August 25 Absolutely awesome! by cmorriso
The lake is just beautiful and the hiking trail is wonderful to follow around the lake! Great place to kayak!
Private Area Campgrounds
Jackson Lake Campground & Park LLC
3715 Cedar Hill Road Northwest
Canal Winchester, OH
614-837-2656
Camp Coonpath
4625 Coonpath Road, N.W.
Carroll, OH
740-756-9218
Area Fishing Related Businesses
Scott's Bait & Tackel
1030 S Court St
Circleville, OH
(740) 474-8898
Area Accommodations
Hidden Cave Cabin - Rockbridge, OH
Cottages and Cabins
Hidden Cave Cabin is an authentic log cabin with 2 bedrooms in a private wooded setting. It is located on one of the most scenic drives in Hocking Hills and just 3.6 miles to Rock House and less than 10 miles to Conkle's Hollow and Old Man's Cave.
17.5 miles from park*
Cottages and Cabins
Trickle Creek offers luxury cabins in Hocking Hills. The cabins are situated on nearly 236 acres of secluded cabin rentals in the deep wooded ravines in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Hocking County, Ohio.
19.8 miles from park*
Reservations
Arrival Date
Number of Nights
Directions
1. Start by heading south on OH-23 S from Columbus.
2. Continue on OH-23 S for approximately 23 miles until you reach Circleville.
3. In Circleville, take the exit onto US-22 W/US-62 W toward Washington Court House.
4. Follow US-22 W/US-62 W for about 7 miles.
5. Take a slight left onto OH-188 S.
6. Continue on OH-188 S for approximately 3 miles until you reach the entrance of A.W. Marion State Park on your left.
Ohio
77

A W MARION STATE PARK

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